When I got up at 4:30 AM on Saturday morning, the house was still warm (70 – 71F) and it was 8F outside. So I’d gotten the stoves right, even though I’d been told it was to be 14F. I got the one in the office going and left the masonry heater alone as it was to be sunny during the day.
About 8AM, as the sun crept into the house, I started feeling cold, even though the office stove was still hot. I checked the inside thermometer and it had dropped 5°F. I checked the outside thermometer and it read 1F. No wonder!
I didn’t fill the stove again because I hoped the sun would pull the temp up in an hour or so. If I light the stove and it does, it will be 90+F in the office. But that might feel good after a couple hours outside in the single digits cleaning out the trash shed before this hits (F°):
My helpers called and said they’d come a bit later as it was so cold outside. When they got here they decided I should stay in and they would go out and do the trash shed.
They lasted about 1 hour in their own boots and came in with cold feet. So I loaned them my Sorels and they did fine after that. Good thing I had 2 pairs. And the trash shed is empty.
Before they got here I finished fluffing the 3rd section of the tree.
Then I got the 2nd section all ready to start. It will go much faster as it’s a lot smaller.
I’d gotten the outside decorations down and hung to dry by the stove. I’d hoped to get them put away, but kept forgetting the bags and hangers when I went upstairs.
I got all the holly down and the helpers dumped it over the bank.
I started a pumpkin pudding in hopes it would finish about when the helpers did and I could give them something warm to warm up with. It finished before they did but was still warm when they came in. They had bowlfuls with cream on it.
I got the stockings washed and laid to dry. Then I put the stocking hanger away.
I went out and fed the birds and the helpers and I got the buckets of sand out of the Tonka garage and into the garden shed.
Tom arrived with the milk order and he drove the truck, now fully loaded with trash and recycling, to the dump and finally that job was done. Then he finished the plowing and I went up and shoveled out the mailbox.
I am as ready for the ice storm as I can get and for the following cold.
Sunday, except for 2 trips to do cats, I plan to stay inside, fluff the tree and take down more decorations.